Bushland, cafes and community spirit close to Brisbane’s CBD
The other day at 6.15am I ran out the door to catch the bus. I waved to my daughter and husband, then smiled and even said “good morning” to the guy who came to pick up his dog by my driveway.
Five years ago, a man whose dog fouled my path would have been cold at best, let alone smiling. But Tarragindi, with its tree-lined streets and forested areas, fascinated me. HE person.
I’ve lived in apartments for most of my adult life – either here in Brisbane or in New Zealand – and have never known or seen my neighbours. I liked it that way. But living in this southside hub changed me.
I know and really love my neighbor. I say good morning to my walking friends. I interact with other parents at the playground. And I make small talk with the cafe staff. My inner monologue regularly involves asking myself “Who are you?” he asks.
Nestled between Annerley and Moorooka, Tarragindi is a gem of a place. I often joke that everyone either has a dog or a stroller or both. Just a 15-minute walk takes you through the bush to a dog park, a cafe serving some of the city’s best matcha (we’re looking at you, Lola’s), and a stream to spot turtles. All this less than 10 kilometers from the CBD.
It has such a family-friendly atmosphere that I barely felt the need to go out during my 12 months of parental leave. In fact, every Monday one of the local cafes would come to visit me and my sister with our babies.
There’s a ripper scooter park and four playgrounds within walking distance of each other; two primary schools; wonderful doctors at the local clinic; and these cafes are kid friendly.
When you think of a dinner spot you might not think of Tarragindi – it’s no Paddington or Bulimba – but it holds its own.
Oh Monk prepares the best beef, cashew fries, and coconut rice I’ve ever eaten, while Georgie’s Corner serves up a mean (and affordable) chicken burger. You can buy a tray of the best cinnamon buns from Davies Bakery and, if you’re feeling cheerful, browse the aisles of Good Things Grocer for items you won’t find at Woolworths. There’s even a stylish wine bar in a former post office.
On the cafe front, the team at Umu Kitchen are the friendliest you’ll ever meet; Dijon Toasties, on the other hand, recognized my husband with his usual order of coffee and hash browns.
Between meals, you can wander through Toohey Forest to see koalas, goannas and snakes. Or if, like me, you’re terrified of encountering snakes (despite growing up on a farm in northern Queensland), you can see photos of them on the local community Facebook group.
It was formerly known as sandy creekTarragindi was urbanized during the post-World War II housing boom in the 1950s. Most houses at the time were in the Interwar style; It was designed asymmetrically, with a gable roof facing the street.
We live in such a house, and although our house has been renovated over the years, it has retained its character. Houses of this style are slowly disappearing from the streets around us. Instead, mini-mansions in blocks of 300 to 600 square meters are taking over.
Don’t get me wrong, they are gorgeous homes. I went through one not too long ago and was blown away by the design. But the design is being imitated by many builders in the area, so everything is starting to look a bit the same.
The five-bed machine, located on a 405 square meter block, recently sold for $3.17 million
These homes come with huge price tags. A five-bed building on a 405 square meter block recently sold for $3.17 million. A 614-square-foot one recently sold for $4.1 million.
It seems like every few weeks there’s a post on the community’s Facebook page from someone selling a house, hoping to find a buyer that will retain its original character. Maybe it’s a pipe dream in this upside-down economy?
I am not demolishing these structures. We explored the idea of rebuilding ourselves. But a rough estimate of over $1 million to build a simple, no-frills home, without taking into account the cost of removing the existing house or building retaining walls, made the idea laughable.
You may have heard that last year Brisbane was labeled the most expensive place to build in Australia. I’m sure the situation will get worse as we get closer to the Olympics.
We’d consider trading in a new (or new) build, but prices are an issue, and it also raises a question that other inner-city suburban residents are asking: Where would we move?
So for now, for my family, we will be staying somewhere surrounded by woodland and wildlife. Kookaburras wake us up in the morning, water dragons — or dinosaurs, as my toddler calls them — scamper around our yard, koalas disappear and reemerge on our deck, and snakes are sure to watch us from the bushes.
I have to pinch myself to think that this is actually where we live. And we’re still only 20 minutes from the city center by bus.
